Blog Post

The Beamhouse Yard site at 5-9 Surrey Street in Croydon has planning permission under Croydon Council reference number 18/01211/FUL for the demolition of the existing building and replacement with a six/seven/eight storey development. Commercial units would be provided on the lower ground (sui generis, A3 and D1/D2) and ground floor (flexible use A1, A2, A3, D1, D2, B1(a)), with 60 flats above with associated public realm improvements and landscaping including courtyard area with, disabled car parking and cycle parking. Planning permission was unanimously granted by Croydon’s planning committee on 14th February 2019.

Beamhouse Yard stems from a genuine opportunity to redevelop an under-utilised site in a key town centre location. The existing building occupies a prominent position, but is out of keeping both in terms of scale and architectural quality when compared to its neighbours. The existing property is tired, no longer fit for purpose, and as such now sits largely vacant. The proposal provides an architecturally rich and robust building that responds to the existing character of Surrey Street and will contribute positively to Croydon Town Centre, Surrey Street and the market.

At lower ground floor the scheme provides more than 5,000sqft of commercial A3/D1/ D2 space incorporating a restaurant/cafe fronting Exchange Square, with purpose built performance space to the rear. This unit is larger, and provides a more appropriate layout to the existing space that it has been designed to replace. The new events space will be called ‘The Beamhouse’, and will be occupied long-term by Hoodoos who previously operated part of the existing space, building a strong reputation and following. Hoodoos have a 25 year lease for the whole space at a discounted market rent and same level as they were previously paying. Hoodoos is a family-owned and operated events group passionate about quality live music, food & drink. The Beamhouse will offer community and charity events including open mic nights (previously voted in the top 5 in London); poetry and spoken word; comedy, cabaret, fashion launch nights; film, yoga and fitness events. The space will also be available to let to other community groups and will also provide new facilities for the Folly’s End Fellowship Trust, which uses the existing building. The proposal not only provides a venue tailored to Hoodoos’ needs, but responds to the surrounding context, enabling the re-activation of Exchange Square and Matthews Yard. The events auditorium is imbedded within the building and will be acoustically isolated to ensure there will be no noise disturbance to existing or new residents.

At ground floor are three further commercial units providing active frontage to Surrey Street and will help to attract footfall to Surrey Street and the market. These units have retail, cafe, restaurant, office and D1/D2 community use.

Above the commercial space, are a total of 60 apartments (34 x 1 bed, 25 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed). Of these 17 units are allocated as shared ownership which can be pepper potted throughout the scheme. There is 1 self-contained rental unit at ground floor. The remaining 42 units are allocated a private. 10% of the units are wheelchair compliant. There are two residential cores directly opposite each other which are entered from Surrey Street through an external arcade. The communal courtyard is also accessed at ground floor from Surrey Street, providing external amenity and play space. In addition there is a mix of communal roof terraces, inset balconies and winter gardens within the residential units. The scheme was devised following a series of pre-application meetings and engagement with planning officers, a pre-application presentation to Croydon’s planning committee, feedback from 4 public consultation evenings, design input from Hoodoos and consultation meetings with Surrey Street market and local business.